Modular sloped roof solar mounting system

Abstract

A mounting system for supporting a plurality of photovoltaic modules on a sloped support surface, such as a sloped roof, is disclosed herein. The mounting system may include one or more support surface attachment devices, each support surface attachment device configured to attach one or more photovoltaic modules to a support surface; and one or more module coupling devices, each module coupling device configured to couple a plurality of photovoltaic modules to one another.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A support surface attachment device, said support surface attachment device configured to attach one or more photovoltaic modules to a support surface, said support surface attachment device comprising:
 a rotatable base member, said rotatable base member being pivotal about a central rotational axis, said rotatable base member configured to be attached to a support surface, and said rotatable base member including spaced-apart walls with opposed inwardly protruding portions defining a slot for receiving a securement member; 
 an upper support member, said upper support member coupled to said rotatable base member by said securement member; and 
 a clamp assembly configured to engage one or more photovoltaic modules, said clamp assembly coupled to said rotatable base member and said upper support member, a portion of said upper support member disposed between said clamp assembly and said rotatable base member; 
 wherein said clamp assembly and said upper support member are capable of being selectively positioned along a circumferential path of said rotatable base member prior to said rotatable base member being fixed in place relative to said support surface so as to permit adjustability when said one or more photovoltaic modules are being attached to said support surface. 
 
     
     
       2. The support surface attachment device according to  claim 1 , wherein said clamp assembly of said support surface attachment device comprises a lower clamp member and an upper clamp member, said upper clamp member connected to said lower clamp member by a first threaded fastening member. 
     
     
       3. The support surface attachment device according to  claim 2 , wherein said lower clamp member of said clamp assembly comprises a lower ledge extending from an outer side of said lower clamp member, and said upper clamp member comprises an upper flange portion, said lower ledge and said upper flange portion together defining a clamp recess. 
     
     
       4. The support surface attachment device according to  claim 3 , wherein said lower clamp member further comprises at least one vertical wall extending upwardly from said lower ledge, and said upper clamp member further comprises a base portion extending downwardly from said upper flange portion, said base portion of said upper clamp member overlapping said at least one vertical wall of said lower clamp member. 
     
     
       5. The support surface attachment device according to  claim 4 , wherein said at least one vertical wall of said lower clamp member comprises a pair of vertical walls extending upwardly from said lower ledge, said base portion of said upper clamp member being received within said pair of vertical walls of said lower clamp member. 
     
     
       6. The support surface attachment device according to  claim 2 , further comprising a second threaded fastening member, said second threaded fastening member coupling said clamp assembly to said rotatable base member. 
     
     
       7. The support surface attachment device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a flashing member having a fastener aperture configured to receive a fastener for attaching said rotatable base member and said flashing member to said support surface, said fastener aperture being disposed through a raised portion of said flashing member so that water is prevented from passing through said fastener aperture. 
     
     
       8. A support surface attachment device, said support surface attachment device configured to attach one or more photovoltaic modules to a support surface, said support surface attachment device comprising:
 a rotatable base member, said rotatable base member being pivotal about a central rotational axis, said rotatable base member configured to be attached to a support surface; 
 an upper support member, said upper support member coupled to said rotatable base member; and 
 a clamp assembly configured to engage one or more photovoltaic modules, said clamp assembly coupled to said rotatable base member and said upper support member, a portion of said upper support member disposed between said clamp assembly and said rotatable base member, and said clamp assembly including a lower clamp member and an upper clamp member, said lower clamp member of said clamp assembly including a lower ledge extending from an outer side of said lower clamp member, and said upper clamp member including an upper flange portion, said lower ledge and said upper flange portion together defining a clamp recess, said lower clamp member further including at least one vertical wall extending upwardly from said lower ledge, and said upper clamp member further including a base portion extending downwardly from said upper flange portion, said base portion of said upper clamp member overlapping said at least one vertical wall of said lower clamp member; 
 wherein said clamp assembly and said upper support member are capable of being selectively positioned along a circumferential path of said rotatable base member prior to said rotatable base member being fixed in place relative to said support surface so as to permit adjustability when said one or more photovoltaic modules are being attached to said support surface. 
 
     
     
       9. The support surface attachment device according to  claim 8 , wherein said upper clamp member is connected to said lower clamp member by a threaded fastening member. 
     
     
       10. The support surface attachment device according to  claim 8 , wherein said rotatable base member is an elongate member with spaced-apart walls. 
     
     
       11. The support surface attachment device according to  claim 8 , further comprising a flashing member having a fastener aperture configured to receive a fastener for attaching said rotatable base member and said flashing member to said support surface. 
     
     
       12. A support surface attachment device, said support surface attachment device configured to attach one or more photovoltaic modules to a support surface, said support surface attachment device comprising:
 a rotatable base member, said rotatable base member being pivotal about a central rotational axis, said rotatable base member configured to be attached to a support surface, and said rotatable base member including spaced-apart walls with opposed inwardly protruding portions defining a slot for receiving a securement member; 
 an upper support member, said upper support member coupled to said rotatable base member by said securement member; and 
 a clamp assembly configured to engage one or more photovoltaic modules, said clamp assembly coupled to said rotatable base member and said upper support member, a portion of said upper support member disposed between said clamp assembly and said rotatable base member, and said clamp assembly including a lower clamp member and an upper clamp member, said lower clamp member of said clamp assembly including a lower ledge extending from an outer side of said lower clamp member, and said upper clamp member including an upper flange portion, said lower ledge and said upper flange portion together defining a clamp recess, said lower clamp member further including at least one vertical wall extending upwardly from said lower ledge, and said upper clamp member further including a base portion extending downwardly from said upper flange portion, said base portion of said upper clamp member overlapping said at least one vertical wall of said lower clamp member; 
 wherein said clamp assembly and said upper support member are capable of being selectively positioned along a circumferential path of said rotatable base member prior to said rotatable base member being fixed in place relative to said support surface so as to permit adjustability when said one or more photovoltaic modules are being attached to said support surface. 
 
     
     
       13. The support surface attachment device according to  claim 12 , wherein said upper clamp member is connected to said lower clamp member by a threaded fastening member. 
     
     
       14. The support surface attachment device according to  claim 12 , further comprising a flashing member having a fastener aperture configured to receive a fastener for attaching said rotatable base member and said flashing member to said support surface.